The Dissertation Title

Although I already determined the title of the dissertation as it was a requirement for a particular assignment last semester, I still feel confused about this title. I feel that the title needs improvement as it might not be fully clear on what my research will actually be based on.

From now on I will be working and considering changing the title to be clearer. To do so, I’m considering lecturers’ advices. So, I’m trying to ask lecturers to help me out construct a better title. The next important thing I need to do is to submit a paper where I will be explaining my final title and area of study. This needs to be submitted by the end of May so that it will be verified by administrative persons, if I’m not mistaken.

Having had an assignment during the first semester, that gave us an insight about the structure and what a dissertation requires, made me feel a bit prepared for next year. I’m sure that next year will be a very tense year, where we need to work on the required assignments along with the dissertation. Personally, thinking about it makes me feel stressed and anxious, but then knowing that I have from now on to start preparing and having all the learning outcomes achieved by then, (during this academic year) it will hopefully prepare me for such project.

I think looking at others’ dissertations will also help me understand better the quality of work required. I still need to do this task, as I hope it will help me further understand the requirements. 

Mdina Ditch

Image by: Lucianne Calleja

Image by: Lucianne Calleja

For the research of the “Landscape Design” unit, I had to select and find about a local landscape design. I chose the Mdina Ditch project since it’s the closest one to my house and overall I like the project a lot. A while ago, when I used to have some spare time during the evenings, I used to go for a walk passing through the ditch enjoying the surroundings. At that point I never noticed or observed the space very well. But now doing the research for this task made observe certain things that normally are taken for granted by users.

To complete this task, I went to visit the ditch several times in order to take images and do some observations. I went there at different times of the day and the evening as to observe well how it’s being used by people.

Mdina Ditch - Before - Source Unkown

During the week in the evenings the ditch is mostly used by people who loves walking or jogging, during the day from morning to evening it is mostly used by tourists and during the weekend it is mostly used by families. During the night, the ditch is closed but could only be appreciated from above, from the Howard gardens.

About the Ditch

The Mdina ditch serves as a buffer zone from Rabat and Mdina, where the bastions start. It is an area where rain water used to be collected in reservoirs during the knights’ era.

Image by: Lucianne Calleja

Created by: Lucianne Calleja

Before the project was done, it was a completely abandoned area from the authorities. It used to serve as a parking area, sports pitch and filled with citrus trees. But around the 2012 they started to come up with ideas to make the space useful and aesthetically pleasing. The concept behind this project was to create a space to be enjoyed by families, so it had to be designed as a safe environment where people would relax and rest their minds while enjoying the beauty of the surroundings. They also wanted to implement an original idea and function when the ditch used to serve as to collect rain water into a reservoir at the Vilhena palace in Mdina. The new project was then finished in 2013.

In order to do this project most citrus trees were relocated in a more organized manner, following the chosen design idea. The trees were replaced following the linear paths created, making room for full visibility to the bastions which should be fully appreciated by visitors, as they are an important feature of Mdina which forms part of the Maltese history.  

The new design of the Mdina is very linear, parallel with the surrounding walls. Overall the area is very quiet as it is situated in a lower level of the surroundings. The surrounding walls and bastions serves to block the noise. On the opposite side of the bastions there is the well-known Howard garden which serves as a buffer zone from the noise of a busy street adjacent to it. The Ditch has various seating areas, situated where there are the most interesting features around.

Image by: Lucianne Calleja

Image by: Lucianne Calleja

During night time, the bastions are brightly lit by large flood-lights, which then the bright light on the bastions, reflects back on darker areas, creating a focal point of admiration on the bastions. The lighting bollards are placed along the paths to give a sense of direction which acts as a guide to pedestrians. Lamps are used for seating areas, which makes it adaptive for seating purposes. Both lighting bollards and lamps has symmetrical distribution. The overall lighting is bright white, however least popular areas have warm yellowish light, creating a sense of relaxation and a contrast from the rest of the space, showing the different zones within the space.

The ditch nowadays is still in good condition, but lacks maintenance especially of lighting. During evening hours the broken lighting fixtures create dark areas, which blocks the user from appreciating certain features of the place during that time of the day. 

References

• Abela Mercieca, N. 2011. Mdina ditch to be turned into public garden. Times of Malta. [online] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110113/local/mdina-ditch-to-be-turned-into-public-garden.345072 [Accessed 9 March 2017].
• Anon, 2012. €1.2 million Mdina ditch project includes testing of sustainable rainwater use. Malta Today. [online] Available at: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/21108/1-2-million-mdina-ditch-project-includes-testing-of-sustainable-rainwater-use20120918#.WMro8jsrKUl [Accessed 11 March 2017].
• Anon, 2013. Mdina ditch project completed. Times of Malta. [online] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130306/local/mdina-ditch-project-completed.460362#.UYqA3WsYzLg.wordpress [Accessed 9 March 2017].
• Anon, n.d, The Presence of Trees in Malta's Urban Areas. MEPA [online] Available at: https://www.mepa.org.mt/outlook33-article5 [Accessed 11 March 2017].
• Attard Bros, 2013. Mdina ditch Hard Landscaping Malta Project [online] Available at: http://attardbros.com/mdina-ditch-hard-landscapingproject/ [Accessed 10 March 2017].
• Chetcuti, K., 2012. ‘Battle’ scene at Mdina ditch [online] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120525/local/-Battle-sceneat-Mdina-ditch.421226 [Accessed 10 March 2017].
• Malta Independent, 2012. Mdina Ditch To become fully accessible. [online] Available at: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2012-0510/news/mdina-ditch-to-become-fully-accessible-309867/ [Accessed 6 March 2017].

Library Design - Case Study (Dissertation)

Arch Daily, 2013.

A case study that can relate to my intended dissertation is the Subterranean Tunnel Links Library, designed by JKMM Architects, which was initially designed by Alvar Aalto in 1965. The main building is known to be a “masterpiece of modern architecture and a highly valuable cultural environment”, therefore known for its uniqueness of its characteristics.  

The new project wanted to redesign the existing library in a contemporary style that attracts various age groups (Frearson, A. 2014). The new project design expanded the original area as to increase the area and incorporate additional reading rooms mainly to meet today’s needs (Frearson, A. 2014). The design was quite challenging especially to be able to create a balance between the old and the new building keeping the same characteristics design by Aalto (JKMM Architects, 2013).

One of the aims the new design proposed is to create a connection between the new and old part of the building by respecting the original characteristics (JKMM Architects, 2013).

Arch Daily, 2013.

Nowadays technology is rapidly changing and developing, and this project aims to provide adaptive technologies in relation to the library, aiming to draw attention of different individuals towards the library (JKMM Architects, 2013). Creating new roles to the new library by creating various zones within this library for various activities. The zones were sectioned in three which were distinguished by the different use of form, textures and materials from one zone to the other (JKMM Architects, 2013). One zone was created as a relaxing area where various activities related with the library can happen, then stairs leads users towards the shelving area were most of the books are held, also leading to a subterranean passage that leads to the older part of the building (JKMM Architects, 2013). A sculpture like elements was incorporate throughout most parts of the interior. From the interior beautiful panoramic view are achieved with no obstruction, creating a connection of the exterior into the interior (JKMM Architects, 2013).

Dezeen, 2014.

The whole building itself stands out and contrasts from the rest as its exterior has a darker material from the rest of the buildings at the surroundings. The materials used for the exterior were dark copper cladding, which forms a unique and eye-catching texture (JKMM Architects, 2013).

Arch Daily, 2013.

Having analysed this case study, I really think that this case study is interesting and I’m realising that we tend to overlook the need of libraries in Malta and do not invest in such buildings which can aim to enrich everyone’s knowledge. If something similar is done in Malta, I personally think that it would draws children’s and parents’ attention, and they’d invest more of their time in literacy. This case study shows an insight of what I would like my dissertation project to be based on, but of course having the research to determine the aims and objectives to design a local public library.

References

Frearson, A. 2014. Subterranean tunnel links Seinäjoki library by JKMM Architects with Aalto's 1965 building. Dezeen. [online] Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2014/11/12/seinajoki-city-library-jkmm-architects-alvar-aalto-finland/ [Accessed 11 March 2017].

JKMM Architects, 2013. City Library in Seinäjoki / JKMM Architects. Arch daily. [online] Available at: http://www.archdaily.com/360049/city-library-in-seinajoki-jkmm-architects [Accessed 12 March 2017].

Group Work

This semester for most of the units, we need to work in groups. Working in groups isn’t always easy and there are various advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I think that having four units that needs to be done in groups during one semester are a lot, because certain tasks get me confused at times as to understand and refresh my memory about with whom I’m working with what.

Groupworks acts as a learning journey, as one will understand how to work hand in hand with others, which I believe that in our area of study it will be useful in the future. This experience of working with others is helping me to let others show their opinions and ideas. We are also learning from each other different methods and understandings. Sometimes working alone, might lead you to think through one point of view. However, sometimes I prefer to work on my own as I feel that I have full control on all my work and don’t need to rely on someone else.

Through these experiences, I’m still learning to work in groups and that working in large group of people isn’t easy as it’s more difficult to have group meeting and to have full agreement by all members, thus leading to numerous arguments. Having arguments in a group is sometimes healthy, although it depends on the quality of the arguments. Sometimes arguments lead to unwanted negativity or misunderstandings, which may result in a bad outcome. Moreover, to have a healthy team of people, there needs to be people having different perspectives and having different people having different knowledge from every aspect of the topic.

Although working with close friends is more comfortable, it is good to work with new people as this prepare us to our future career where we need to meet new people and work with them, whether you like them or not.

Currently having gone through a difficult moment in my life recently, I felt that starting to work with other people started to get me nervous and anxious resulting in less concentration on work. Well, from my impression some people don’t seem to understand what my situation is and I don’t blame them or need them to feel sorry for me, none of that but sometimes some people do not respect that other people might be hurt in their personal life. Personally, I’m not one to feel offended very often, but at the moment I’m trying to recover from a heartbreak which needs some time to heal so that I can get back on my feet. Moreover, I’m still doing the best I could and I’m determined to get good grades and work well as a team member so that we all get good grades. Through this experience, I’m learning to stay calm and have patience.